Vacationing in Puerto Rico: What to Know Before You Go

Puerto Rico is an island in the Caribbean lined with beautiful beaches. The beautiful water is one reason Puerto Rico has become a very popular tourist destination. Before you make the trip south, there are a few things you should know about Puerto Rico.

First, in order to get to Puerto Rico you will have to fly or take some type of boat, most likely a cruise ship. I know that sounds like a pretty obvious statement, but some people do not understand geography and ask how long of a drive it is to Puerto Rico! The only other alternative is swimming, and it would be a pretty long swim!

Now that we have determined how to get to Puerto Rico, let's talk about the island. Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. It is basically what Hawaii was before it became a state. Because of this, citizens of the United States are not required to have a passport when traveling to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico was a territory of Spain until the Spanish American War, where it was lost to the Americans. Since then it has been a US territory floating in the Caribbean.

The people in Puerto Rico are extremely friendly and helpful. They are very proud of their home land, which is evident in the Puerto Rican flags displayed. Puerto Ricans come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. When most people think of Puerto Ricans they think of a short person with a tan skin color, dark brown or black hair, and brown eyes. While there are quite a few Puerto Ricans matching that description, there are several that do not. You will see Puerto Ricans that are short and tall. Brown and black hair is very common, but there are Puerto Ricans with red hair and even blond hair. You will come across many Puerto Ricans with a tan skin color. You will also see some with a white skin tone or even pale. There are also Puerto Ricans with a very dark skin tone like what one would associate with African Americans.

The primary language spoken in Puerto Rico is Spanish, however many people are fluent in English, especially in tourist area of San Juan. The further you get form a tourist area the less likely you are to find someone that speaks English.

Another thing about Puerto Ricans that you must keep in mind is their driving technique. Often times stop signs and red lights are merely suggestions. And, in many cases, motorists obeying posted speed limit signs are likely to get run over. Puerto Ricans are very aggressive drivers. They are some of the most laid back people you will meet, but when they have someplace to go, don't get in their way. They will honk at you and find a way around you! Despite the crazy driving behavior, there are relatively few vehicle accidents.

If you are going to be in the San Juan area and planning on renting a car to get around, get a small car. Many of the streets in Puerto Rico are very narrow. San Juan has a lot of one way streets that are tight squeezes, even for small cars. This is especially evident in Old San Juan. To help with this, rent as small of a car as possible. This will also help with the rental fee!

When you plan for your trip to Puerto Rico there are no special shots that you need to get. An interesting side note - there are no poisonous snakes in Puerto Rico. Keep these things in mind as you prepare to explore the island.